October 19 / 16.06 Sedgefield

16.06

Good

Michael Watson Civils & Groundworks Durham National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £14308.25
  • 3m 5f 48y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Michael Watson Civils & Groundworks Durham National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: -321F1 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; consistent over hurdles and fences for new yard; that's mostly at about 2m4f/2m5f, including a win over these fences in September and another over hurdles at Fontwell 16 days ago, but he was also runner-up over 2m7f at Worcester in August; fell at the second in a 3m2f race on penultimate start, so his stamina for this remains a guess, and he's 4lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Ivane

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Has won two of his 12 races over fences, most recently over 3m5f at Sedgefield last October (good), but not in top form on last three starts.

100/30

4th

1

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:20 Stratford

Ivane

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Successful over fences (twice) and hurdles last term; went off the boil on his last two runs early on this year and is 7lb higher than his last winning mark; looks to need to come down the weights.

5/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-11F1

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; signed off for Tim Vaughan with four consecutive wins in May-July, by a street at Cartmel (3m1f, good) on final occasion; there were some jumping scares in that four-timer and he fell on stable debut in September but no problems winning at Warwick (3m) one week later, when he was unchallenged and raced away again on run-in; up another 9lb but it's the extra distance which gives him most to prove today; big chance if he stays.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

15th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 3

18:55 Aintree

Bumpy Evans

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Front-runner who is 5-10 over fences but the handicapper is beginning to look in charge and he worryingly refused to race last week at Market Rasen; cheekpieces are soon turned to.

9/2

4

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Bumpy Evans

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Free-going front-runner with 5-9 strike-rate over fences; unable to justify favouritism but still ran well before weakening into third at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last month, after a break, and could be hard to catch here if that run has brought him on.

5/2

3rd

6

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Bumpy Evans

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Front-runner who is 5-8 over fences and he found more progress when runner-up in the Durham National (3m5f, good) in October; this is a different test on his return but he still looks on a workable mark and was successful over 2m4f last spring; has worn a hood in all of his chase runs but the headgear is missing today.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 11-112 BF

Last run: 90 days

W: 10st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Revitalised 9yo who won five consecutive chases in March-June before his form levelled out again with a creditable second at Cartmel in July; has proven stamina (won the Highland National at Perth in April) and has never been better, so needs respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

7th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Fairlawn Flyer

11st 8lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Mickey Bowen

Has won ten of his 30 chases, four of them last year; hasn't been in quite such good form this term, last time finishing 8l fourth of six at Cartmel (3m1f, good), but he's on a good mark now.

11/2

4th

6

26th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 4

15:50 Cartmel

Fairlawn Flyer

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Admirable strike-rate of 10-29 over fences; won this 12 months ago off 1lb higher and had only five starts in the meantime, the latest respectable in a higher grade behind stablemate Stratagem; chance.

4/1

3rd

3

25th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

15:58 Cartmel

Fairlawn Flyer

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

10-28 over fences, including three 3m1f course wins; below form at Ffos Las this month, after a break, but is back on a good mark and this marathon trip will suit; must be considered.

11/4

Form: 56-227 CD

Last run: 112 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Game and often front-runner; won this prize in 2023 and best form in 2024 (before fair third in this race); runner-up over fences and hurdles in May (after a break) before a lesser show in June on latest outing but that was over just 2m5f; 6lb below his peak mark and should be seriously involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:47 Cartmel

Tommie Beau

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Popular veteran who runs this track well and capitalised upon some significant help from the handicapper when winning Norfolk National at Fakenham (3m5f, good) in May; this drop back in trip is not ideal on his return to hurdling, though; cheekpieces (worn for last three races) left off today.

10/1

2nd

1

25th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 80y

Class 3

15:58 Cartmel

Tommie Beau

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

No longer the force of old and inconsistent nowadays but he capitalised upon some significant help from the handicapper when winning Norfolk National at Fakenham (3m5f, good) three weeks ago and he is also very well suited by this track.

15/8

1st

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Tommie Beau

11st 11lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Gained three of his 14 wins here, including 2022 edition of this race, but has regressed and become inconsistent; didn't run badly in last month's Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, good; first-time cheekpieces) but younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

14/1

Form: 7-7231

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
First chase win was in October 2023 and the second wasn't until last month but he thoroughly dominated a four-runner race at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) on that latest outing, returning to his best; unraced beyond that and needs to find a bit extra given he's back up 7lb, so connections enlist 7lb-claiming amateur who's already won a hurdle race for them this week.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:10 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

12st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Front-runner who returned from seven-month break with 7l win in first-time visor over C&D (good to firm) last month; only 3lb higher than for that success but he failed to repeat the form when a remote fifth at Worcester (2m7f, good); that was another blip in his patchy profile and he needs to bounce back again.

6/1

5th

4

11th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:40 Worcester

Bagheera Ginge

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Front-runner who returned from seven-month break with 7l win in first-time visor at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month; only 4lb higher here but the market principals in that race disappointed and the form is of questionable value; raced mainly on good ground but has won on good to soft and been placed on soft.

7/2

1st

4

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made all in small field at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September but absent since running poorly in Sedgefield marathon three weeks later and needs to resume in peak form to have a chance off current mark; swaps usual cheekpieces for first-time visor.

7/1

Form: -5P834

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
5lb out of the handicap today, which wouldn't be too bad judged on his peak form for Matt Sheppard (three chase wins at 2m4f-2m5f towards end of 2024); however, he's only once shown something similar in his five starts since, when third at this track (2m3f) on the second of his three runs for new yard; tried 2m on latest outing and this new trip asks a big question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Moodofthemoment

10st 13lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: David Thompson

Has won four chases and latest was at Newcastle in October (2m4f, good); well handicapped on that form but he's been disappointing since and was pulled up at Perth two weeks ago.

16/1

3

2nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 4

15:18 Perth

Moodofthemoment

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: David Thompson

Has won four chases, all over this trip, the latest at Newcastle in October (good); fair third at Hexham last time (2m4f, good); a possible.

11/2

3rd

3

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:13 Hexham

Moodofthemoment

11st 11lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: David Thompson

Four chase wins, latest at Newcastle last October (2m4f, good); not fared as well since, but now back on last winning mark.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.20
Straight Forecast £12.32
Trifecta £57.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Bumpy Evans

POSTDATA:

Bagheera Ginge

SPOTLIGHT:

Fairlawn Flyer

TOPSPEED:

Bumpy Evans

The Times:

Bumpy Evans

Daily Mirror:

Bumpy Evans

Telegraph:

Bagheera Ginge

D Express:

Bagheera Ginge

Daily Record:

Bagheera Ginge

The Sun:

Fairlawn Flyer

The Star:

Fairlawn Flyer